Any good NZ Motorcycle Web Sites?

[Hitcher]

There are still tons of people who don't or won't purchase anything online - I'm one of them.

There are whole host of items where people won't purchase online but do all their research online. I suspect motorcycles are no exception. Such prospective purchasers are being sadly neglected.

And I would be most disappointed to learn that the so-called New Zealand master agents for the major motorcycle brands were just a bunch of enthusiasts with a handful of hoodies in the workshop out the back. Please tell me it's not true! If these significant franchises are dished out on this basis, I would be sorely tempted to assemble a consortium to bid for one (not fussed which) and show the others how to really get new bikes on the road (and trails, and trials, and track). I'm serious.

[Quasievil]

There are whole host of items where people won't purchase online but do all their research online. I suspect motorcycles are no exception. Such prospective purchasers are being sadly neglected.

And I would be most disappointed to learn that the so-called New Zealand master agents for the major motorcycle brands were just a bunch of enthusiasts with a handful of hoodies in the workshop out the back. Please tell me it's not true! If these significant franchises are dished out on this basis, I would be sorely tempted to assemble a consortium to bid for one (not fussed which) and show the others how to really get new bikes on the road (and trails, and trials, and track). I'm serious.

Rest Easy Hitcher, most big name brands are all hooked up with reputable business, I used to be marketing manager for Nationwide Accessories years ago, we had AGV, Pirelli amongst heaps of others, most other big brands are hooked in with Forbes and Davies or Drabis or someone else, we have a huge number of wholesalers in the NZ market representing hundreds of brands, unfortunetly though the NZ market is small and they fight like dogs for share.
In saying all that they are still keeping alot of Margins high!!!

[roogazza]

http://www.kiwimotorcycle.co.nz/ It also has forums and there are a few others listed in the bike links.

That poor girl in your avatar has out grown her shirt !!!!!!!!! G.

oops ! sorry , couldn't resist !!

[Big Dave]

I suspect motorcycles are no exception. Such prospective purchasers are being sadly neglected.

Where? - All of the maufacturers have trick sites - what is the benefit in reproducing it all locally just to have .co.nz at the end of the url?

And I would be most disappointed to learn that the so-called New Zealand master agents for the major motorcycle brands were just a bunch of enthusiasts with a handful of hoodies in the workshop out the back.

OK - i'm talking retail and you are wholesale. Don't get into a motorcycle business for the profits - bikes and lifestyle are what it's about.
I get 50% more doing my thing for non bike business customers.

Please tell me it's not true! If these significant franchises are dished out on this basis, I would be sorely tempted to assemble a consortium to bid for one (not fussed which) and show the others how to really get new bikes on the road (and trails, and trials, and track). I'm serious.

Go for it.

But do the numbers thoroughly - it's a tight old game - and even if you have the 'everything' in place perfectly - given them all the info, the site, the red carpet and baked them dinner - they'll still buy it from joe bloggs down the road because he was a grand cheaper on his demo clearance.

[Ixion]

Where? - All of the maufacturers have trick sites - what is the benefit in reproducing it all locally just to have .co.nz at the end of the url?

,,.

The benefit is that the viewer knows that particular model is indeed available in this country. The manufacturers' web sites seldom detail which models are available in which market, nor the specifications thereof. And of course, the viewer also wants to know the PRICE in New Zealand. And the colour choices.By all means link to the manufacturers website for "further information".But be a bit more proactive than (for example) Red Baron whose web site is essentially just a bunch of links

Look at it this way.

Suppose you could send out a multi page, full colour brochure to every household in the country. A fresh one very day. For a fraction of a cent per copy. Delivered. And obtain reliable feedback on how many people actually read the brochure

Sounds like a marketers dream, eh?

[scracha]

I luff flash in the right spots. Many times more people get a feel good from matey (it's chris btw - if you click on him it opens a pic) wheelstanding across the bottom of their screen than those that are concered with what software had been implemented to make it happen.

It's ASP and cold fusion that blow arse.

Definately agree about the flash. I don't mind flash animations, I just hate sites that don't function at all if you turn off flash. Cold fusion...I'd love to learn that (so much to learn, so little time, so little pay in programming these days ).

[Big Dave]

The benefit is that the viewer knows that particular model is indeed available in this country. The manufacturers' web sites seldom detail which models are available in which market, nor the specifications thereof. And of course, the viewer also wants to know the PRICE in New Zealand. And the colour choices.By all means link to the manufacturers website for "further information".But be a bit more proactive than (for example) Red Baron whose web site is essentially just a bunch of links

Look at it this way.

Suppose you could send out a multi page, full colour brochure to every household in the country. A fresh one very day. For a fraction of a cent per copy. Delivered. And obtain reliable feedback on how many people actually read the brochure

Sounds like a marketers dream, eh?

Only when the cost of implementation is surpasssed by increased sales revenue.
There are many times more examples of this not being the case than there are success stories.

Also - If you give the customer complete and comprehensive information and dot every i and cross every online t - you somewhat negate the need for them to talk to a salesman (which is the optimum result) - until they find some incomplete data elsewhere and they ring that dealer to find out. Sale lost because he'll invite them to come in face to face and probably sign them up.

Rightsizing is the trick obviously.

And I'm talking new bikes - not gear.

[Lou Girardin]

I won't buy online if I can avoid it. And I won't buy o'seas, unless I can't get the item I want here.
I want to look at and touch stuff, up close and personal. I prefer talking to humans too. It's easier to negotiate while you're looking into their beady eyes.
I think the internet is useful for porn and writing bullshit on forums, at a stretch, doing some research.

[Hitcher]

So to summarise so far: New Zealand "motorcycle" web sites are crap. But that's OK, because the businesses who put them up really can't afford to and don't expect to sell anything as a consequence because people make their buying decisions in store and some other shop down the road will always be having a fire sale.

[Big Dave]

So to summarise so far: New Zealand "motorcycle" web sites are crap. But that's OK, because the businesses who put them up really can't afford to and don't expect to sell anything as a consequence because people make their buying decisions in store and some other shop down the road will always be having a fire sale.

Or there are more effective ways to spend their advertising budgets - at the moment.

[SpankMe]

http://www.motorcyclingnz.co.nz
http://sportsbike.co.nz
http://www.nzsbf.co.nz
http://www.amcc.org.nz

These site owners should add their sites to the bike links page.

[Big Dave]

So to summarise so far: New Zealand "motorcycle" web sites are crap. But that's OK, because the businesses who put them up really can't afford to and don't expect to sell anything as a consequence because people make their buying decisions in store and some other shop down the road will always be having a fire sale.

Interesting to revisit this thread after the developments of the past qtr.

This is what i would like to see more of:
http://www.motomail.co.nz/motomovies/movie1.html
(broadband only and needs quicktime)
This starts to stand a better chance of selling apparrell than a picture and a price.
This Video was an off-the-cuff trial to see if it would all work and Chris and Mick will pick some of their faves to tell about and i'll get the sound better.

Nice jacket it is too.